Key Civil Society Groups are
appealing to Members of Parliament to pass the Public Benefit Organizations (PBO) Bill which is expected to streamline
the civil society sector in Kenya.
The PBO Bill, 2012, if enacted into
law, will lead to a new enabling legal, regulatory and institutional framework
for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) doing public benefit work in Kenya.
The Bill was submitted as private members Bill with the support of
the parliamentary committee on Labor and Social Welfare and was published was on
27th April, 2012. It went through the 1st reading in
parliament on 27th June 2012.
“A new enabling legal environment is
essential in ensuring good governance by the CSOs, protecting legitimate civil
society activities and will provide a pertinent framework for the engagement of
CSOs in the implementation of the new constitution,” says Wambua Kawive,
Executive Secretary- CRECO and Co-Chair, CSO Reference Group.
Parliament is due to resume sitting next
week and the PBO Bill 2012 is among the Bills expected to be tabled on the
floor of the House.
The CSO
Reference Group which has
been providing leadership in putting together and lobbying for the passage of
the Public Benefits Organisations (PBO)
Bill, has mobilized, informed and consulted with other stakeholders on
the development of the Bill. A successful stakeholders Retreat to discuss the
PBO bill was hosted by the Parliamentary Committee on Labour and Social Welfare
in August 2012.
In a statement, Wambua Kawive, CSO
Reference Group Co Chair says “We invite stakeholders to continue giving input
and memorandum for amendments to the Parliamentary Committee on Labour and
Social Welfare to improve the PBO Bill before its final discussion in
parliament.”
